Automatic bagging device

ABSTRACT

A bagging device is set in the check-out counter of a supermarket. The device is located adjacent to the cashier. As the merchandise is checked and rung up by the cashier (or passed across the scanner when an optical reader-computer is used) it is rolled or slid into one of a plurality of merchandise receiving compartments recessed in the counter, and whose size and shape is substantially that of a filled bag. The cashier places the merchandise so that the heavier or more dense articles will be disposed at the bottom of the filled bag and the ligher, bulkier articles will be disposed in the upper portion of the same bag. A separate movable belt forms the bottom of each of said compartments. A plurality of vacuum actuated bag receptacles juxtapose the discharge ends of said belts. As each of said compartments becomes filled the cashier depresses a treadle and the respective belt moves the group of articles as a unit into the awaiting open bag. When the bag is filled the receptacle is tilted and becomes upright, and automatically relieves the vacuum releasing the bag for removal. The receptacle returns to its original position. The cashier slides a flat unopened bag into the receptacle, whereupon a vacuum platge engages the folded bottom wall of the bag, and opens the bag, aided by all the vacuum inner surfaces of the receptacle which also serve to maintain the bag in a fully opened position until it is filled. As soon as the belt in a given compartment empties the same it is immediately ready for the next load. The second embodiment differs from the first one in that an additional transport belt is provided below the counter level adjacent to the belt at the bottom of each recessed compartment, for its respective bag receptacle. In this case the empty bag is carried to each said receptacle by the said additional transport belt. The flat unopened bag is slid onto the transport belt through slots in the counter.

nited States Patent [191 .ioselotf Dec. 24, 1974 AUTOMATIC BAGGING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Stanley Joseloft, Eastman Shore,

Lanconia, N.l-l. 03346 [22] Filed: Oct. 17, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 407,080

[52] US. Cl 53/188, 53/386, 53/391 [51] Int. Cl 1365b 43/54, B65b 67/04 [58] Field of Search 53/187-189, 53/384, 386, 390, 391; 186/1 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,281,516 4/1942 Royal 53/386 2,924,053 2/1960 Bisen 53/390 3,052,075 9/1962 Velasquez 53/391 X 3,564,814 2/1971 Graveley 53/391 X 3,626,662 12/1971 Graveley 53/391 X 3,628,632 12/1971 Lambert 53/391 X 3,678,660 7/1972 Musser.... 53/391 X 3,707,826 1/1973 Cole 53/189 X Primary Examiner-Robert L. Spruill Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles E. Temko [57] ABSTRACT A bagging device is set in the check-out counter of a supermarket. The device is located adjacent to the cashier. As the merchandise is checked and rung up by the cashier (or passed across the scanner when an optical reader-computer is used) it is rolled or slid into one of a plurality of merchandise receiving compartments recessed in the counter, and whose size and shape is substantially that of a filled bag. The cashier places the merchandise so that the heavier or more dense articles will be disposed at the bottom of the filled bag and the ligher, bulkier articles will be disposed in the upper portion of the same bag. A separate movable belt forms the bottom of each of said compartments.

A plurality of vacuum actuated bag receptacles juxtapose the discharge ends of said belts. As each of said compartments becomes filled the cashier depresses a treadle and the respective belt moves the group of articles as a unit into the awaiting open bag. When the bag is filled the receptacle is tilted and becomes upright, and automatically relieves the vacuum releasing the bag for removal. The receptacle returns to its original position. The cashier slides a flat unopened bag into the receptacle, whereupon a vacuum platge engages the folded bottom wall of the bag, and opens the bag, aided by all the vacuum inner surfaces of the receptacle which also serve to maintain the bag in a fully opened position until it is filled.

As soon as the belt in a given compartment empties the same it is immediately ready for the next load.

The second embodiment differs from the first one in that an additional transport belt is provided below the counter level adjacent to the belt at the bottom of each recessed compartment, for its respective bag receptacle. In this case the empty bag is carried to each said receptacle by the said additional transport belt. The flat unopened bag is slid onto the transport belt through slots in the counter.

2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures iesirsfr PATENTEDDECZMHH SHEET 3 BF 3 AUTOMATIC BAGGING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the field of material handling, and more particularly to improved means for bagging items of merchandise as they move past a checking point on a supermarket checkout counter. Under normal operation and high volume, it is usual to place selected articles on the surface of the counter where the cashier or scanning attendant is located. Checked items are then moved manually, or by a moving belt to the rear of the counter where they are manually bagged, either by the cashier or attendant after the checking has been completed, or by a separate person who packs the bags. The present invention contemplates the provision of structure which materially improves this operation, increasing speed and efficiency, and dispensing with the necessity of the additional employee. The present application relates to certain improvements over my copending applications Ser. No. 374,634 and Ser. No. 392,009 and new combinations therewith.

THE PRIOR ART The Peterson U. S. Pat. No. 2,976,953 discloses an involved system in which articles of merchandise are placed upon a platform which descends as loaded to a point where a packaging is formed about the articles, using paper supplied from a roll. Mersky, US Pat. No. 2,909,020 shows a checkout bagging counter with two belts in tandem. Musser, U.S. Pat. No. 3,678,660 discloses an unload, check, and bag apparatus for supermarkets, while Musser U.S. Pat. No. 3,679,096 shows a bag magazine from which the bags are manually removed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawings, to which reference is made in the specification, similar reference characters have been used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary schematic in perspective of a portion of FIG. 1 as seen from the left thereof looking down into the article compartments and into the open bags in the bag receptacles.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 4-4 on FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view partly schematic of a bag receptacle and associated structure.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in section as seen from the plane 7-7 on FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with the invention the device generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a stationary support 12; a first merchandise receiving compartment 14; a second merchandise receiving compartment 14a; a first bag receptacle 50; a second bag receptacle 50a; and a bag supply 21.

Turning to FIG. 3, the first compartment 14 is formed by vertical walls 22, 24, and 26 which depend from the counter surface 28. The exposed surfaces of these walls are abrasion resistant and slippery, being composed for example, of Formica or Teflon. As will be obvious to those skilled in this art, the device 10 may be scaled to accommodate bags of any desired dimensions. By way of example, reference will be made to a grocery bag 40, 18 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 8 inches wide at the gusset sides when opened.

The floor of the compartment 14 is formed by a first compartment belt 30, the upper surface of which is located a distance below the counter surface 28, slightly less than the open gusset width of the bag 40, for example 7 inches. The walls 22 and 26 are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the width of an opened bag, for example I 1 inches. The wall 24 is spaced from the facing open edge of the receptacle 50 a distance somewhat less than the length of the bag 40, for example 16 inches.

The wall 26 at the upper portion thereof is angled to form a ramp 32 which at its upper edge joins the counter surface 28.

The belt 30 is driven in the direction of the receptacle 50 by a motor 34 which is controlled by a start and stop treadle switch 36.

Disposed at the upper edge of walls 22 and 24 is a low fence 38 which prevents merchandise from entering the compartment 14 directly from the counter portion 39, while the remaining portion of the fence 38 prevents merchandise from spilling over the counter thereat.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the receptacle 50 includes an upper wall 52, a lower wall 54, side walls 56 and 58 and end wall 60 and a shiftable plate 62 for opening the bag bottom 49 from its flat unopened state. While in the first embodiment the receptacle is shown as as horizontal in its loading position, it may where desired be tilted as shown in the second embodiment. The walls 52, 54, 56, and 58 are of laminar construction. The inner layer 64 of each of said walls is preferably composed of a perforated pliable slippery flexible sheet of synthetic resin such as Teflon. The intermediate layer 66 is preferably composed of a sheet of open cell synthetic resin foam allowing free air movement through it. The outer layer 68 is preferably composed of a pliant impervious sheet of a tough synthetic resin such as fabric reinforced vinyl copolymer. The outer layer is sufficiently firm to maintain the general open configuration of the receptacle as illustrated.

The intermediate layer 66 is connected to a suitable vacuum source 70 by a tube 71, said tube also being connected to the intermediate layer of the plate 62. A solenoid acuated valve 72 is interposed between source 70 and tube 71 and is normally closed, venting the tube 71 to ambient atmosphere through vent 73.

The plate 62 is of laminar construction having a perforated inner surface 74, a pneumatic conducting intermediate layer 75, and a firm outer layer 76. Plate'62 is pivotally mounted with respect to lower wall 54 by a hollow air conducting hinge 77 pneumatically connected to tube 71. The plate 62 is shown in FIG. 5 in its lower bag receiving position by full lines, and is shiftable by means of an integral crank 78 to its vertical position as indicated by the dot-dash lines in said Figure. The crank 78 is reciprocated by the piston rod 79, in turn actuated by the pneumatic cylinder 80 connected to tube 71. Cylinder 80 is pivotally mounted on bearing 81 on base 88.

Disposed adjacent the hinge 77 in side wall 56 is a normally open, pressure actuated switch 82. When a flat unopened bag 40 is inserted into the receptacle 50 it is guided into a fully seated position by the undersurface of plate 62. When the bag 40 engages switch 82 it closes the circuit 83 from energy source 84 to the solenoid 89 which shifts valve 72 to its vacuum connecting position. This causes the inner (then lower) surface of plate 62 to attract and hold the bottom wall 49 of bag 40. Piston rod 79 is shifted to the right as viewed in FIG. 5 rotating plate 62 counter-clockwise to its dotdash position, opening the bag 40. Simultaneously suction is created at the inner layer 64 of each of the walls 52, 54, 56 and 58 of receptacle 50 which act to fully open the bag 40 and to maintain it in such opened condition. As soon as the bag 40 is fully opened it is ready to receive its load of merchandise which is in the compartment l4, requiring only pressure on the switch treadle 36.

The receptacle 50 is trunnioned between opposed parts of the support 12 at an axis 85 which is above the center of gravity of the filled bag. The receptacle 50 has first and second positions, and is retained in the first position shown in full lines in FIG. 4 by a latch 86. When the receptacle 50 is in its horizontal loading position, it is precisely located with respect to belt 30 by a stationary strut 25. In this position and with a bag 40 disposed therein, a wide notch in the then bottom wall 54 of receptacle 50 exposes the then lower edge or lip 41 (FIG. 2) of the bag 40 to contact the stationary suction plate 63. Plate 63 is pneumatically connected to tube 71 via solenoidal valve 61 which in its open position connects plate 63 to the vacuum source 70 and in its closed position vents to ambient atmosphere, thereby releasing the suction connection between said bag lip 41 and plate 63.

As seen in the upper portion of FIG. 3, treadle 36 when depressed first closes switch 31 which actuates valve 61 via circuits 35 and 83 activating suction plate 63 and when further depressed closes switch 37 completeing the circuit 33 from power source 29 to motor 34 which drives belt 30. When pressure on treadle 36 is removed, a time delay 27, which may be an adjustable dash-pot, keeps switches 35 and 37 closed for a predetermined period so that the belt continues its movement for a sufficient period of time to deliver its entire load into the awaiting bag 40.

When the latch 86 is released, the receptacle 50 assumes a vertical position (dot-dash lines in FIG. 4) and the suction in plate 62, and walls 52, 54, 56 and 58 is stopped, permitting the bag to be removed. This results when the radial finger 87 strikes the normally closed pressure actuated switch 90 thereby opening the circuit 83 shifting valve 72 to its vacuum closed, relief venting position. As soon as the bag 40 is removed, the receptacle 50 returns to its loading position to engage stationary strut 25 and latch 86, by the action of gravity upon the weight 51 which is secured to the receptacle and/or the action of spring 53 which urges the receptacle 50 toward rotation aboutaxis 85 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5.

The second compartment 14a differs from the first one only in its positioning and in the provision of the ramp 32a as a part of wall 24a. To avoid unnecessary repetition certain of the parts associated with the second compartment are given reference characters which are similar to the first embodiment with the addition of the suffix a.

Turning now to the second embodiment seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, for the purpose of avoiding repetition, certain of the parts corresponding to the first embodiment are given the same reference characters with the addition of a prefix 2. The second embodiment differs from the first principally in that the second embodiment has transport belts 296 and 296a. This construction enables the bag delivery area to be more remotely located with respect to the cashier or scanning attendant, when such placement is desirable.

As seen in said Figures, the cashier or scanning attendant is able to reload the receptacles 250 and 250a by inserting flat unopened bags into the guide slots 292 and 292a so that these bags 240 and 2400 (FIG. 7) are engaged by the upper surface of belts 296 and 296a, the upper surface of the bags sliding along under the lower surfaces of the narrow ledges 294 and 294a located on the walls 298 and 298a, which form a trough through which the transport belts 296 and 2960 move as they carry merchandise to the receptacles 250 and 250a. The exposed surfaces of the walls 298 and 298a are composed of abrasion resistant and slippery material as for example Formica or Teflon.

The second embodiment also includes belt drives 295, and structure by which the receptacles 250 and 250a may be angularly positioned during the loading step, as best seen in FIG. 7. Motors 295 may parallel motors 234 and 234a, or run constantly, independently.

OPERATION With the source of suction active, the cashier or scanning attendant grasps the top bag from the supply 21 at her right hand, which is a vertical stack of horizontally positioned flat unopened bags, and inserts it flat and unopened, into one of the two adjacent receptacles, and repeats this motion for the other recptacle. The bags are completely opened automatically ready to receive a full complement of merchandise which has been placed on the counter area 39.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the construction and arrangement of the two compartments 14 and 14a enables the cashier or scanning attendant to assort merchandise quickly in organized fashion and to slide it into the horizontal submerged compartments in the counter in exactly the same order and arrangement as it will be transported into a waiting open bag. As soon as an item is toted up, it is not permitted to stagnate on the counter but is immediately dispatched to the most suitable area for packing in either bag. For instance canned goods are positioned within the selected compartment nearest to the opening of the bag, so that these goods will find their place at the bottom of the packed bag;

packaged items such as cereals and the like can be lined up against the walls of the compartment; lighter bulkier items are placed in respective compartments so as to emerge in the center or upper portions of each packed bag. The compartments are submerged in the counter with slide down ramps, and located with respect to the cashier or scanning attendant so as to be within a convenient radius for free manipulation with both hands. Furthermore, items need not be lifted but can be merely slid down the ramps of the respective compartments. Packing takes place in layers, until the articles reach the level of the counter, or defined limits fore and aft of each compartment.

As soon as each compartment is filled to its capacity, a pedal is depressed and the merchandise is transported intact, with all of the items remaining in their preset position, into the waiting bag which is horizontal or slightly angled. The full bags are manually lifted from their receptacles, and the above process is ready for immediate repetition: fresh bags are inserted in their respective receptacles and the compartments are immediately available for repacking.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In an automatic bagging device for use with a bag of predetermined size and configuration, and articles of merchandise at a check-out counter, the improvement comprising: a merchandise receiving compartment disposed in said counter including a pair of side walls and an end wall, a compartment belt forming a bottom wall of said compartment, said compartment being of a size and configuration substantially the same as an opened bag; a bag receptacle juxtaposing said compartment at a lonogitudinal end thereof opposite said end wall; means to move said belt in a direction of said bag receptacle to empty the contents of said compartment into said bag receptacle, bag opening means sensitive to the presence of an unopened bag disposed in said receptacle, bag supply means disposed adjacent and beneath said end wall of said compartment, said bag receptacle having a first bag and merchandise receiving position and a second bag removal position pivotally related to said first position, and latch means retaining said bag receptacle in said first position, release of said latch means allowing shift of said bag receptacle to said second position under the weight of a loaded bag.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, including counterweight means to return said receptacle to said first position when a loaded bag has been removed. 

1. In an automatic bagging device for use with a bag of predetermined size and configuration, and articles of merchandise at a check-out counter, the improvement comprising: a merchandise receiving compartment disposed in said counter including a pair of side walls and an end wall, a compartment belt forming a bottom wall of said compartment, said compartment being of a size and configuration substantially the same as an opened bag; a bag receptacle juxtaposing said compartment at a lonogitudinal end thereof opposite said end wall; means to move said belt in a direction of said bag receptacle to empty the contents of said compartment into said bag receptacle, bag opening means sensitive to the presence of an unopened bag disposed in said receptacle, bag supply means disposed adjacent and beneath said end wall of said compartment, said bag receptacle having a first bag and merchandise receiving position and a second bag removal position pivotally related to said first position, and latch means retaining said bag receptacle in said first position, release of said latch means allowing shift of said bag receptacle to said second position under the weight of a loaded bag.
 2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, including counterweight means to return said receptacle to said first position when a loaded bag has been removed. 